The Colorado Hebrew Chorale and its women’s choir, Kol Nashim, announce their annual fundraising evening, Raisins and Almonds: A Tu B’Shvat Celebration, to be held Sunday, January 27, 2019 at the Hebrew Educational Alliance, 3600 South Ivanhoe Street in Denver. The memorable and meaningful event will commence at 5:00 pm with an open wine bar, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, the opportunity to browse an assortment of items at the silent auction and a vendor marketplace featuring works by Risa Aqua, Salha Mishaan, Mara Shapiro and Kathleen Traylor. The silent auction offerings will be available online beginning Dec. 16. Three major items will be auctioned live at the event including a South African safari, a three-day weekend at a Wyndham resort in Avon, CO, and a photo shoot with Avital Rotbart.

The musical program will begin at 6:30 p.m., and will feature a special concert by the two choirs in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Special tribute will be given to long-time Colorado Hebrew Chorale member soloist Estelle Nadel. Born in Poland, Estelle is a child survivor of the Holocaust, and shares her story around the world.

Guest artists include Cantor Asa Fradkin on Bethesda, Maryland who participated in last year’s Raisins and Almonds concert and local composer M. Susan Brown. Kol Nashim will present the world premiere of a newly commissioned work by Denverite by Ms. Brown based upon text by Jewish heroine Hannah Szenes (1921-1944).

Following the performance, the event will conclude with a festive sit-down dinner catered by Cohen’s Cuisine and special musical entertainment by Cantor Fradkin.

Raisins and Almonds is co-chaired by Carol Kozak Ward, Music Director of the Colorado Hebrew Chorale, and Leah Peer, Music Director of Kol Nashim. Sherrie Davidson is coordinating the vendors and silent auction. Other committee members include Jan Edwards who is coordinating volunteers, and Bonnie Kossoff. Barbara Zimmerman is assisting with publicity.

Funds raised at Raisins and Almonds will enable both choirs to continue with their musical missions and to expand their outreach to the community. Throughout its 26 year history, Colorado Hebrew Chorale has fought hatred and prejudice through the universal language of music. Kol Nashim joins the Chorale in its multicultural outreach, and has embraced issues affecting battered women and their children. Both choirs focus on artistic excellence to ensure unique musical experiences while exposing audiences to the richness of Jewish culture and creativity.

Theatre Or and Denver’s Hebrew Educational Alliance announced two additional performances of Anat Gov’s play, “OH MY GOD!,” starring Boulder’s Rabbi Marc Soloway as God. The play was presented in Denver and Boulder last fall to great acclaim, and due to popular demand, Theatre Or has arranged these January performances.

The performances will be on Saturday, January 19, at 8:00 pm and on Sunday, January 20, at 3:00 pm at the Hebrew Educational Alliance, 3600 South Ivanhoe Street in Denver. Both shows feature post-show talkback with artists and clergy.

Limited time only, early bird pricing is available through January 14th. Now through January 14, all tickets to OH MY GOD! are priced at just $22.00. After the 14th, tickets are $27, seniors $25. Click here to purchase tickets or call the HEA box office at 720-390-4433.

OH MY GOD!
A divine comedy by Anat Gov
Directed by Richard H. Pegg

When God seeks out an earthly therapist to aid him with his wrenching doubt, it is not always clear who is the therapist to whom. Wrestling with doubts of her own, Ella has but one therapy session to convince God not to destroy his creation.

“Anat Gov’s Oh [My] God! is a treasure. It’s a funny, witty, poignant, often brilliant text that asks some intriguing questions about the nature of the Deity and our relationship to Him, all in a delightful 80 minutes that whisk by like five” — The Jerusalem Post

Featuring Rabbi Marc Soloway in the title role, Gina Walker as Ella, and Ryan Stack as her teenage son.

Mazel tov to the 2016-2017 Hazon mini-grant recipients. We received 22 very competitive applications. After a thorough review, our Colorado Advisory Board allocated $20,000 to 11 organizations. Combined, these projects are expected to reach and benefit more than 15,000 people in our community! Read a bit about the recipients and their inspirational projects below.

Ahavah Farm – To help this “beyond organic” farm obtain water rights so that it can continue to provide a CSA and door-to-door delivery to the Denver Jewish community.

Boulder Food Rescue – To help Jewish organizations in Boulder donate the abundance of leftover prepared foods from their events to needy in the community.

Chabad of NW Metro Denver – To help expand Camp Kind, a one-week summer camp where campers visit a local farm, local soup kitchen, learn composting, and make crafts with recycled materials.